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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0   ^1^  ta 

■tt  lii   12.2 


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iS,    12.0 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


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.T3  «JVtfST  MAIN  STREET 
Wi»STiR,N.Y.  I'tSM 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


i^ 


4 


T«ehnleal  and  BlbllograpMo  NotM/NotM  tcehniquM  •!  bibllographiquM 


Th«  Institut*  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographiealiy  uniqua, 
whieh  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduetion.  or  which  may  signifieantiy  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaclcad  balow. 


D 


n 


D 


n 


n 


Coiourad  c  ,wt%/ 
Couvar '-   «  da  eouiaur 


r~~1   Covars  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagia 

Covers  rattorad  and/or  iaminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurto  at/ou  palliculAa 


r~~\   Covar  titia  miuing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Coiourad  mapa/ 

Cartas  giographiquas  an  coulaur 

Coiourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  biua  or  blacic)/ 
Encra  da  eouiaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

Coiourad  piatas  and/or  iiiuatrations/ 
Pianehaa  at/ou  iiiuatrations  an  eouiaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Raii4  avae  d'autras  documents 


|T7{   Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  raiiure  serrAe  peut  causer  de  i'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  la  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Bianic  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
heve  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  eertaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAas 
iors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  4t«  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentairas.- 


L'Inatitut  a  mierofiimA  la  maiHaur  axamplaira 
qu1l  lui  a  At*  poaalbia  da  aa  procurer.  I.aa  details 
da  eat  exemplaire  qui  aont  paut-4tra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  Mbiiographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modifier 
une  Image  raprodulte,  ou  qui  peuvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  de  filmage 
aont  indiquto  ci-daaaoua. 


Thi 
toi 


|~~|  Coloured  pagae/ 


D 


Pagea  de  eouleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pagae  endommagAas 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurAas  at/ou  pailiculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe< 
Pages  dAcoiorAes,  tachaties  ou  piquAaa 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachAes 

Sho¥vthrough> 
Tranaparance 

Quality  of  prii^ 

QuaiitA  InAgala  de  i'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matAriai  supplAmentaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seuie  Mition  diaponibia 


r~|  Pages  damaged/ 

nn  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

1^  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

|~~|  Pages  detached/ 

r^  Shovvthrough/ 

r~|  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

n~|  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Taj 

{MM 
Of  I 

flln 


Orit 
bea 

the 
sioi 
oth 
first 

SiOf 

oril 


The 
she 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff( 
enti 
beg 
righ 
reqi 
met 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieliement 
obscureies  par  un  feuiiiet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  At*  fiimAes  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  chesicad  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimA  au  teux  de  rAduction  indlquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  IbX  22X 


26X 


30X 


^mm  i^^^H  ^HHa  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^B^Ka 


12X 


16X 


aox 


24X 


2BX 


32X 


ail* 

du 

idiftor 

un« 

nag* 


Tha  copy  filmad  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
ta  tha  o*narosity  of: 

Library  Divitic^ 

Provincial  Archivtt  of  British  Columbia 

T'AA  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
IKMsibIa  considaring  tha  condition  and  iagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  capias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tlia  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  iilustratad  impras- 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  capias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  iilustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  andiny  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iilustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microfiche 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  ^»>  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 


L'sKamplaira  f  limA  f  ut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
g«n«roolt«  da: 

Library  DiviMon 

Provincial  Archivat  of  British  Columbia 

Laa  imagas  suivantas  ant  AtA  raproduitas  avac  ia 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  I'axamplairs  film*,  at  mn 
canformiti  avac  las  canditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Las  axamplairas  originauM  dont  ia  couvartura  9n 
papiar  ast  imprimia  sont  filmAs  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  salt  par  ia 
darnlAra  paga  qui  camporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  ia  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  camporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  comport*  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparaftra  sur  ia 
darniira  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  -^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE".  ia 
symbols  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 


Maps,  platas.  citarts.  ate.  may  b*  filmad  at 
diffarant  reduction  ratios.  Thoss  too  iarga  to  ba 
antiraiy  included  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  9ha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar.  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  Illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  k  des  taux  da  rMuction  diffArants. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  soul  clichA.  ii  est  film*  A  pertir 
do  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  i  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  la  nombro 
d'images  nAcessaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iliustrent  la  mAthode. 


rrata 
o 


9eiure, 
1* 


□ 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

^.^-'«fc-~ 


1 


•'•l.v'      ■ 


:M 


SPEECH 


,'t  ••<■•. 


0V 


MK.  YELL,  OF  ARKANSAS, 


.  f 


ON   THE 


0  R  JB  G  ONQUBSTION 


DELIVERED 


vil«|r,flii5  Ftoxra 


FEBRUARY   7,    1846. 


'•      •  '!         '' 


•         ) 


WASHINGTON; 
PRINTBO  AT  THE  UNION  OFFICE. 


V 


On  the  rei 


Mr.  YELj 

committee  as 

Mr.  Y.  e& 

lie  could  coir 

what  course 

qiicition.     L 

own.    He  p 

man  of  the  t 

own  hod  bee 

when  the  que 

never  varied 

constituents  i 

He  was  nn 

opportunity, 

agree  with  hi: 

(juecition,  bu: 

lionor.     lie 

each  of  the  <^t 

conic  out,  in  ti 

the  proposed 

conr^e  which 

safe  one — no; 

••ourse'was  c( 

No  doabt,  on  i 

would  each  d' 

gard   to  whti: 

whole  House, 

Nor  was  h' 

this  occasion  i: 

man  fiom    ]V! 

Adams.]    Hii 

of  a  poHticai 

times  find  our 

on  questions  c 

evidence  th.ii  i 

with  him;  hut 

opinion  of  tha 

fion,  as  soon  a 

tienien   had  a  i 

party  attachm 

not  to  bo  sus{ 

opposed   to  thi 

lously  support* 

question   wnul 

on  which  all  cc 

was  not  inr,;in 

fxutily  agree  \ 


SPEECH. 


On  the  resolution  giving  the  twelve  months'  notice  fur  the  icniiinatiOH  of  the  joint 

occitjioncy  of  the  Oregon  territory. 


Mr.  YELL  obtained  the   floor  and  lulJrossod  ilic  : 
committee  as  follows :  j 

Mr.  Y.  paid  he  liad  not  the  vanity  to  Kiippo.<;c| 
lie  could  convince  any  goiitlciiian  of  llie  comiTiittt'tii 
what  course  they  ought  to  |  u-suc  upon  tl.is  jicat' 
quc;:tion.  He  wa^  satiKftcd  v.  a  ou;]r|it  to  lie  hi^l 
own.  He  presumed  the  opiniu.  *)  of  tvcry  jii-nili;-' 
man  of  the  Housu  were  differently  made  vi;>.  Hi.,  j 
own  hod  teen  for  Bonie  time.  In  fiict,  it  wad  ro  | 
when  the  question  first  camo  up.  lii.s  mind  haJ  : 
never  varied  for  ampmoDt,  and  happily  for  him,  hi.^ 
cunsiitucnts  always  knew  wlieic  to  fun!  him.  ' 

lie  was  much  o^alified  that  lie  luid  for  uwcr'.  an  ; 
opportunity,  at  least  on  one  single  qiitj^tion,  to  j 
agree  with  bifl  whig  friends.  This  was  no  p'"ili(ical  ] 
question,  bu:  ona  involving  our  niUionol  intcre^i  imd 
honor.  He  rc'p'ic.eA  that  gentlemen  belonging  to  | 
each  of  the  jrietit  political  parties  of  the  coiuitry  hud  j 
come  out,  in  rh'j  most  dcc:.'*ive  manner,  in  luvor  of; 
Ujc  proposed  notice,  and  were  willing  to  adopt  the  , 
course  which  he  coi>sidered  the  only  propfr  and ! 
safe  one — no:  that  he  had  u  confidence  that  their  j 
coun-^Cwas  correct  because  hn  aijreed  willi  ihem. ; 
No  doubt,  on  a  ^rcat  national  question  like  thi.s,  they  , 
would  each  d^nde  for  themselves,  without  any  re-i 
gard  to  what  migiit  be  the  opinion,  either  of  the 
whole  House,  or  of  any  particular  member  of  it. 

Nor  was  ho  at  all  uneasy  in   finding  himself  on 
thisocca&ion  m  company  with  the  venerable  gentle- 1 
man   fiom    Massacliuaetts,    ovec    the    way,   [Mr.' 
AuAMH.]     Hi:s  conetituents  would  not  su.-pect  him 
of  a  political   sin  on  that    account.      We    some-j 
times  find  ourselves  with  strange   bed-fellowf;  and 
on  question?  of  politics,  it   would  be  ",)!i»/irt /I/c'e"| 
evidence  th.ii  hu  was  wrong  to  he  found  voting;  with 
with  him;  tun  he  wna  rcudy  at  any  time  to  take  the 
opinion  of  thai  gentleman  on  a  great  national  ques-l 
fion,  as  soon  as  any  mun's  in  the  Union.  Other  gen- 
tlemen  had  a  right  to  think  m  they  pleased.     His 
party  attachments  and  his   political  integrity  were 
not  to  bo  suspected.     Many  good  rfen»ocratK  were 
opposed   to  this  notice.     Many  decided  v/higa  zea- 
lously supported   it.     He  sincerely  hop<d   that  this 
question   would  prove  a  great  American   platfunn, 
on  which  all  could  find  room  to  stand-,  he  certainly 
was  not  inclined  to  drive  from  it  a'l  wiio  did  not, 
exactly  agree  with  him. 


It  Was  aqucHlion  on  which  ti-.o  purest  democrats 
might  honorably  diner  from  cac  h  oiher,  nor  wa.^  the 
democracy  as  intoieraiit  nn  mi^y  br  supposed;  they 
did  not  draw  a  ,'ine  on  4!P,  or5'l"  4U',  nnd  say  to 
their  feliow-democrat.s,  come  up  to  thiw.  or  calculate 
on  being  r(ad  (*ut  of  y«;ur  political  church.  If  that 
was  .^nppo.sed  to  be  the  game,  thocigii  he  m;\s  a  dem- 
ocrat "dyed  ill  the  wool,"  he  greatly  iVared  that 
upon  some  ijuestioti.«<  he  would  ^:and  in  danger  of 
being  read  out  himself. 

In  g  ing  mto  at;  examinaiion  of  our  title  to  Ore- 
gon, (whicii  \M\H  the  orly  question  lie  meant  at  thi?; 
lime  t!(  inve-nigiKe,)  he;r.ten(!r.<i  to  ri.:crr!ain  wliother 
Ortgon  "(»•(/,',  (;i;);.;"  atul  wi.en  iliai  wa;i  settled,  he 
would  agrc-  lo  no  comfioiaicc,  either  with  whig  or 
demociut  with  K.igluiid  (»r  any  other  power.  If 
our  title  wa;-  gu..d  hi;  woidd  h;»v'.'  e\c-ry  foot  of  it, 
or  a  ligfit. 

JVIr.  Y.  ^I'tul  he  canif-  from  a  land  of  pcr^rr,  and  he 
represented  a  nio;ai  ao.d  rcligiouf;  p.roplc;  but  they 
would  never  Lc  found  eoiupronsising  liie  ii.tercslf.  of 
their  country,  or  sacrifiJi 'j;  her  honji-  to  avoid  a 
war. 

Wc  are  charged  with  bciru  a-30ciated  with  the 
gentleman  from  Ma.s£a(;luisctt.-  [Mr.  Au.'.ms]  as  our 
leader,  and  his  former  ooiiisi'  is  n  viewed  on  thi.s  ques- 
tion. As  to  that  \eiitrable  gciU'einnn,  he  required 
no  defence  from  h.im.  He  was  on  the  latest  stajje 
of  life,  and  woiild  be  soon  gone  from  among  us,  in  the 
common  coume  of  event:;-,  hv  had  no  longe"  any  ob- 
jects of  eanhly  ambition,  other  than  the  upright  and 
conscientious  discharge  of  hi.s  duty,  and  he  is  fully 
competent  to  defend  hinurlf. 

Tne  gentleman  from  ooutii  Carolina  [Mr.  Wood- 
wARu]  had  said,  how  was  it  in  li^lJ*,  that  he  [Mr. 
Adams]  was  for  lotting  thi.^  question  remain  in 
abeyance,  and  yet  now  wa.s  -•  eager  for  leaving  it 
.scttledr  Why  did  I.e  not  still  rnrtinue  hi-;  former 
system  of  "Hins/c//?/  ifi.ic.'irf/u'"' 

It  seemed,  then,  tiial  the  ge>;tlPinan  from  SouL'i 
Carolina  was  on  tiji.-  :?i;nie  .side  with  the  gentleman 
from  Mddsachu.'ielt.i.  In  iHfiT.  he  continued  th? 
same  "iMaf/Jri.'i/"  he  had  .idvorated  in  ISIH.  The 
gentleman,  howcvir,  only  went  with  the  venerable 
gentleman  from  Mu  .mi  Itusetl,;  as  long  as  that  gen- 
tleman would  go  with  him:  as  isoon  as  ho  came  over 
I  to  the  American  side,  of  t!  e  nue.itioti.  i't  gentVma.t 


fell  back,  and,  turning  on  his  former  friend,  re- 
proaches him  with  going  over  to  the  democratic 
party. 

Mr.  W«K)nwARD  here  rose  to  explain,  which  was 
rery  imperfectly  heard  by  the  repcrter,  (aa  was  al- 
so many  of  the  rcmarku  of  ^Ir.  Y.,)  consequent 
upon  the  great  confusion  and  conversation  in  the 
hail. 

Mr.  Yell  continued.  The  gentleman  says  that 
General  Jackson  pursued  the  same  inactive  policy; 
nnd  he  asks  why  the  laws  and  jurisdiction  of  the 
United  Stales  were  not  extended  ovef  Oregon  at  that 
tine.''  The  gentleman,  to  be  sure,  was  too  young 
at  the  time  to  know  much  about  it;  but  the  answer 
to  his  question  is  very  easy.  The  laws  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  were  not  extended  to  Oregon,  because 
there  were  thf>n  no  people  in  the  territQry  for  the 
laws  to  operat's  upon.  The  gentleman  from  Mas- 
sachusetts will  tell  him  that  th%  same  reason  will  ap- 
ply during  his  administration. 

So  far  us  General  Jackson  was  concerned,  there 
was  no  inconsistency.  If  the  territory  had  been 
peopled  at  that  day  to  the  extent  it  now  is,  no  doubt 
he  would  have  taken  the  same  ground  as  we,  who 
were  his  warm  friends  and  supporters,  now  take. 
This  charge,  in  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
constitute  the  very  reason  why  the  gisntleman 
from  Massachusetts,  and  why  I,'  go  for  giving 
this  notice.  Our  citizens  are  there;  they  need  de- 
fence; they  emigrated  there  by  thousands,  and  they 
have  a  right  to  demand  our  protection.  Thousands 
more  will  go.  This  was  not  the'case  in  1828,  and. 
therefore  the  same  necessity  did  not  cxi9t  for  the 
extension  of  the  laws  over  the  territory.  I  leave 
the  gentleman  from  Massachusetts  and  the  gentle- 
man from  South  Carolina  to  settle  the  matter  be- 
tween themselves.  He  went  as  far  as  General  Jack- 
son did,  and  as  far  as  all  the  Presidents  before  him 
nad  gone;  but  he  is  now  opposed  to  this  new  doc- 
trine of  "masterly  inactivity." 

The  first  question  I  have  to  settle  with  myself,  is, 
h  Oregon  ours  ?  Bv  the  treaty  of  17S3,  between 
Great  Britain  and  France,  Great  Britain  abandon- 
ed all  the  country  west  of  the  Winspi  river,  and 
ceded  it  to  France.  She  now  sets  up  h«r  claim, 
founded  on  the  Nootka  Sound  convention  of  1790; 
and  it  is  under  that  convention  that  she  now  claims 
Oregon;  and  perhaps  it  is  the  most  plausible — it  is 
as  follows: 

Convention  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain, 
comfQonly  called  the  Nootka  treaty,  signed  !:28th 
October,   1790. 

The  principal  object  of  this  treaty  is  contained  in 
th  3d  article;  which  is  as  foIloWs: 

.\at.  3.  In  order  to  strengthen  th«!  bonds  of  friendslvp, 
and  to  preserve  in  Tnture  a  perfect  harnlony  and  good  under- 
standing bet\^'een  the  two  contracting  parties,  it. is  ngreed 
tliat  their  riispeotivo  siulijects  shall  not  lie  di8tui<l>cd  or  mo- 
lested either  in  navigation  or  in  carrying  <ui  their  .fithrries 
iQ  the  Pncific  ocean  or  in  the  South  sfias,  or  in  landing 
on  the  coasts  of  thosjo  seas,  in  places  not  already  qcoupf- 
ed,  for  the  purpose  of  rarri/inj;.  mi  their  ciunmrrct  with  the 
iMfiiicv  of  titu  country,  or  of  making  settlements  thereat,^' 
<iic.,  «ic. 

Urder  that  treaty,  she  acquired  no  title  to  the 
.soil,  or  right  to, the  country,  except  for  commerce, 
fishing,  and  hunting,  and  this  was  all  she  dien 
:luimed  or  desired. 

Spain  receded  to  France  the  whole  country  west 
of  the  Winspi,  in  1800.  In  1803,  the  knitted  States 
became  the  purchaser  of  all  the  title  France  thus  ac- 
quired; and  in  1818  we  purchased  the  claim  of  Spain 


also,  which  gave  us  the  whole  and  wAj  legal  title  lu 
the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains. 

After  our  purchase  of  Louisiana,  in  1803,  we  had 
become  tht  rightful  owners  of  aH  the  country  weal  of 
the  Miosissipp:  river,  from  lamudfl42lo  latitude  61, 
and  \  ...tout  any  civilized  nation  to  contest  our  ti- 
tle Mcept  the  claim  of  Great  Britain,  which  she  ac- 
quired undi^rthe  Nootka  Sound  convention  in  1790, 
and  which  was  not  considel^d  valid,  or  of  much 
force  previous  to  the  year  1818,  as  will  be  seen  and 
better  underfiu)od  by  a  reference  .to  the  correspon- 
dence between  our  government  and  Great  Britain 
upon  the  testoration  of  Fort  George,  which  had 
been  taken  by  the  British  during  the  War  of  1813; 
and  which  was  redelivered  to  the  United  States  by 
the  provisions  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent: 

"In  obedience  to  the  cdinmanil  of  hii  royal  highmts  the 
Prince  Regent,  aignifiwi  in  a  despatch  fr«rii  the  right  hotoora- 
blM  the  Rarl  Batburst,  addresfied  to  the  psrtoers  or  ag«nt< 
of  the  Northwest  Company,  bearing  date  the  U7;V  of 
Januarr,  181H,  and  in  obedience  to  a suhiequent  order  duied 
the  26th  of  .luly,.from  W.  H.  Sherill,  eiq.,  oapUin  of  hiM 
Mkjesty't  ihip' .Andromache,  w,  tht  undtriipud.  '4«,  in  rirn- 
formily  to  tht  fir»t  article  of  the  trtcly  of  Gktnt,  rrtton  to 
the  fouemmtnt  of  tht  Vniltd  Statet.thtoughHa  SgeDt,  J.  B 
Prevost,  etq.,  Ihetettlemmt  oj  Fort  Q*9Tgt,  on  the  CotmmUw 
rirer. 

"Hivenunde;- our  hands,  in  triplicate,  at  Fort  fJfor««, 
(Columbia  river,)  this  (itb  day  of  October,  1810. 

"F.  HICKF.V, 
■Captain  of  his  MaJMty'a  ship  Biossom. . 
"J.  KEITH, 
"Of  the  Northwest  Company. 

The  acceptance  oi-i  the  part  of  the  United  States 
i»  in  these  words: 

"I  do  hereby  acknowledge  to  have  thia  day  rcct<ivt)il, 
In'  behalf  Of  tlie  governnteot  of  the  the  Unit'.'d  States,  the 
nutsriiinn  of  'he  ttttUmtnt  detignattd  a&eve,  in  conformity 
to  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of  lihept.  Uivtm  under 
mv  hand,  jn  triplicate,  at  Fort  George,  (Columbia  river,) 
this  eth  day  of  October,  181H. 

.  "J.  h.  PHEV09X. 

"Agent  of  the.  United  States.'' 

'  On  the  consummation  of  these  acts  of  tlie  reeto.-a- 
tion  of  the  valley  of  the  Columbia  river,  in  conform- 
ity with  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  and  the  aekiiowiedg- 
ment  of  our  right  "to  ha  the  party  in  possession 
while  treating  on  the.  title,"  Mr.  Qreenbow  re- 
niark.ii: 

"The  hritithflaif  was  then  formally  lowtrtd,  atul  that  «J 
Ihe  Vnittd  States  haiitii;  been  hoisted  in  ila  Head  oiirf  tH* 
fort,  win  aalutfd  hy  the  Bloiiom. 

'■  Tlie  docitlnenta  cited— the  only  onea  whith  patted  ht'tv-reu. 
Ihe  commissionert  on  the  eceation—are  tuffieient  to  th<>»  ih3i 
no  reiiervalion,or  rXi;(ption  ti^ai  madt  on  Ihe  part  of  trrmi 
Brilain,  and  thnt  tht  restoration  of  Jtttoria  to  the  Unitril 
Stales  IPOS  complete  and  unconditional.*'  ' 

In  1818,  the  convention  of  joint  oecMPancy  Was 
entered  into;  and  it  was  renewed  and  indennitely 
extended  in  1828;  and  at  that  time,  the  British  min- 
ister admitted  that  Great  Britain  had  no  pretence  to 
the  sovereignty  of  the  soil,  as  will  be  seen  by  ref- 
erence, o  the  articles  of  the  convention,  which  are 
as  follows^  viz: 

Concention  between  the  Vniteil  Sta'leo  uf  Jlmtrica  and    fiiml 
hritain,  tisnid'at  iMiidon,  October '20,  t818. 
"Aktk  F.F.  2.    It  is  igrred  that  a  line  drawn  from  thi:  nioi!( 
northwestern  point.of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  aloiip  the 
fortv^ninth  parallel  of  north  latitude,  or  if  th«  said  point* 
sholl  net  be  iii  the  forty-ninth  peirallel  of  north  latitii(le.ij 
thon  that  a  lino  drawn  Irom  the  said  point  due  north  or' 
south,  HS  the  case  may  be,  until  the  said  line  i^hall  intersect 
the  said  paral.cl  of  north   latitude,  axhI  from  the  point  of 
such  intcr/«ectiou  due  west  along  and  with  thi  vaid  pat-Allel,! 
sliull  be  the  line  of  demarcation  between  tht<  territoiieN  of] 
the   United  States  and  those  of  his  Bntanr.ic  >Iujrsty;  and 
that  the  sard  line  shall  form  the  northern  boundary  of  tht ' 
said  territories  of  the  United  8ti>tes,  rad  the  southeTni  bO'ii 
dary  of  the  territories  of  his  Britaiuiic  Majtsty,  (ioji>  i.( 
Lake  of  the  Woods  tu  the  Stony  mountaisr. 


"A«i..|. 

>'>  either 

ward  of  tli 

I'ors,  bays, 

'» the  lani 

Ihe  date  ol 

'  esscU,  cit 

'Veil  under 

tothepreju 

conirictino 

iry.riorshs 

power  or  St 

.lectoflheh 
tojreventd 

*  vHiention 


"Akt.  I.  J 

'•ention  cone 

and  his  .Majei 

Britain  and  I 

•uid  they  are 

tinuorf  in  fore 

of  the  said  arl 

'^Rr.  a.  It 

contracting  p 

time  after  tliS 

twelve  month 

abrogate  (hi, 

'•«rdfnply  enti 

tionoflhesaii 

,»-:-}«'•■'«   N« 

«'rd  article  ol 

hereby  rontini 

m  any  mannei 

tractinjr  nartie 

ward  01  the  Stc 

,        If  she  hnd 

I  none  now.    ' 

.  Oregon.     Iff 

title  to  Orego 

,  T»«>ndenceof]l 

,  whicii  was  n 

conclusive  be 

still    fully  con 

■  :^sorted  to  tht 

'ar^  of  Slate, 

May  of  doubl 

i  venture  to 

n  a  thousand, 

that  is  not  con 

blunders  in  nr 

compromise,  t 

part  of  the  terr 

But  Mr.  Cai 

fiS.     Nor  has  . 

Kilii.s  debate  sho 

;«'his  the  pro 

vas intended,  » 

•nei-  administrai 

^»f  r.  Polk,  as  wi 

*o  the  following 

"  C 

W'heii  1  cameii 

_.  t' nogotiiUion.    ' 

'"'I  th^f  the  Briti^ 

^•^ned   to  any  p„, 

s  r'Dciple  of  publi 

tnce  to   uhiit  li 

'('♦•f^'.ilJy  i.u-ou.M. 
fJ  l'e<-ri  III, ice.  nia 
l"ist  the  .(.ivsiio 
I  in  two  of  them 
"JonoltL.,  Coll,, 
•'  bt'en  CO mrncMJc 
■0  be  my  <liity  no 
■•'.  too,  thin  uml,. 
,.  ""ns  aii,|suf)i(>, 
h-ii-yolthtTouiitr 
'   <«ttle  ti)i.  lonr 
''♦|rBtipri  \ivhL-b  i 


«•: 


v,t  r- 


to 

lad 
Lof 
61, 
•  li- 
ne- 

foe, 

uch 
and 
pori- 
iiain 
had 
[812-, 
18  by 

it  thv 
Dtiors- 

ir'vof 
r  d..ted 
of  ki'm 
tN  f«"i- 
tCnti  f" 
t,  J   B 

Ueont«, 

I, 

I  Stales 

tatcs,  tkf 
jnformily 
r*n  un<ler 
(la  river,) 


Statefr'' 
re«l6iti- 
nforni\- 

owled{t- 
ssession 

ONV    re- 

Tl<ir   Vnittd 

Incy  >fraa 
lefinitely 
tish  min- 
elcncc  to 
m  by  ref- 
/hich  are 

hi  tb»'  Dioft 
laloiif;  thi: 
ItaU  i>oiitt 

iiOrtli  or 
111  inletBttt 
Te  point  or 

lipitoi i*""  *' 

lory  of  tn 
(>♦•«>  b*'i«p* 

(lOJit     »)»' 


"Akl  I.  Uiit){ri>«il  thiitany  oouiUry  ;)<:•!  m«y  bi  lUinn  J 
'v>y  either  f^rly  ontlic  northw<.Mt  coH'<t  of  \in«>ricH,  wf«t- 
ward  of  the  Stony  niountaiim,  xhall.  toi;*;tht-i  \\ith  it<  har 
l>ora,  bayi,  and  creeki,  and  the  navic^atlenof  alt  river*  with- 
in the  lamc,  be  free  and  open  for  the  term  of  ten  y  rarx  Irom 
the  date  ol  thu  fif^natiin;  of  the  pr«!«<>iit  convention,  to  the 
Tca«cU,  cltixeni,  aai!  mibjectii  of  thi-  two  power*:  it  belnK 
Hell  undentood  that  thi*  airreement  i«  not  to  tie  coBRtriiod 
to  the  prejudice  of  any  claim  whirh  either  of  the  twohii(b 
contracting  parties  may  have  to  any  part  of  the  lai'l  noun- 
try,  rior  ihall  it  l>e  talien  to  att'ect  the  claims  of  any  other 
power  or  State  to  any  part  of  the  said  conntr;; ;  the  only  ob- 
ject of  the  high  rontractin*^  purtiex.  in  thai  Vt-spect.  beini; 
to  irarcDt dispute*  and  ditierences  ainoni^  themkelven  ' 

(  vuftntivn  bfticnn    Ihr   I'nilid    Stat'i  an-l   Grtat    Urileiri. 
ligmed  at  lA»idon.  tlu^utl  U,  IH.'T. 

"Aht.  I.  All  the  provinions  of  thu  third  article  i>f  the  con- 
vention coacludud  betwifen  thi;  I'nited  MtDtcH  of  America 
and  bin  Majeaty  the  King  of  the  United  Kingilom  of  irrent 
Britain  and  Ireland,  on  tne  -Mth  of  October,  IHI8,  Nhall  be, 
.lad  tbey  are  horebv,  further  indetinilely  extended  and  con- 
tinuod  in  force,  in  the  .samt-  manner  aa  if  ail  the  provinion* 
«if  the  said  article  were  herein  specifically  recited. 

"Akt.  'i.  It  shall  be  competent,  however,  to  either  of  the 
contracting  parties,  in  case  eit*  ? r  should  think  lit.  iit  iiny 
time  after  the  'iOth  October,  \»iH,  on  giviiif^  due  notice  of 
twelve  monthii  to  thu  other  contrni'tinK  p^rty,  to  annul  and 
iiibr«Kate  this  eonvention:  ard  it  shall,  in  xuch  ra«*',  hf  ac 
rvrdin^ly  entirely  annulled  and  abrogated,  alter  the  exp^ra- 
tic  a  of  the  said  tei-ro  of  notice. 

/Art.  3.  Nothing  contained  in  thi:<  convention,  or  i'l  thu 
third  article  of  the  convention  of  thi-  20tli  October,  I8IS, 
hereby  continued  in  force,  shall  be  construed  I. >  impair,  or 
m  any  manner  ati'ect,  the  claims  which  cither  >if  Ibi-  cou- 
tractinij  narties  may  have  to  any  pait  ol  tb>-  cuuntiy  west- 
ward ot  tnc  Stony  or  llocky  mo>intaiiiK.'' 

If  she  bad  no  right  to  it  then,  she  ccruiinly  has 
none  now.  Yet  she  pretends  to  the  sovereignty  in 
Oregon.  If  (said  Mr.  Y.)  I  had  douhtx  as  to  our 
title  to  Oregon,  i  would  have  gone  to  the  corres- 
ytondence  of  Mr.  Calhoun  with  the  British  minister, 
whicii  was  marked  by  his  usual  al>iiity,  and  was 
conclusive  beyond  n  reasonable  doul)t.  And  not 
still  fully  convinced,  (said  Mr.  Y..)  I  would  have 
resorted  to  that  of  the  able  and  distinguished  Secre- 
tary of  State,  who  has  placed  it  beyond  the  possi- 
bility of  doubt. 

I  venture  to  say  that  there  is  not  one  individual 
in  a  thousand,  who  has  read  that  correspondence, 
that  is  not  convinced  by  it.  It  is  po.ssible,  that  by 
blunders  in  negotiations  in  former  propositions  to 
ompromise,  this  government  may  have  give  up  a 
part  of  the  territory. 


I  ask  why  this  line  of  49  is  proponed'  Where  is 
the  claim  or  title  that  fixpN  that  line  as  the  true 
boundary.'  Or  where  is  the  plausible  reaaun  given 
by  Great  Britain  for  the  Columbia  as  the  proper 
and  true  boundary.'  There  is  none,  sir,  that  i  have 
heard  offered,  except  that  two  preceding  adminis- 
trations had  offered  to  compromise  at  49,  and  that 
therefore  we  were  in  good  faith  bound  to  accept  it 
now,  if  oflfered.  To  that  I  have  only  to  remark, 
that  if  our  title  to  the  country  was  clear  and  indis- 
putable, the  government  had  no  right  or  authority  to 
<-ede  it  away;  anda.<i  the  proposition  was  rejected 
by  England,  and  withdrawn  by  the  President,  we 
are  ne>tner  honorably  or  equitably  bound  now  to 
accept  it  if  •flTcred.  Our  title  to  Oregon  is  not  weak- 
ened by  the  offer  or  rejection.  I  am  sure  the  Pres- 
ident will  nA  renew  the  proposition;  and  if  it  should 
bi^  made  by  (ireat  Britain,  I  have  confidence  enough 
in  the  administration  and  the  Senate  to  believe  that 
ihf.  interests  and  honor  of  the  country  will  be  main- 
tained. 

If  we  'riaim  by  contiguity,  or  by  Spanish  title, 
there  in  no  reason  for  settling  nt  49^,  or  at  the  Co- 
lumbiu  river,  save  on  piinciple  of  compromise  mere- 
ly; there  can  be  no  other  ground  for  .selecting  that 
line.  I  tell  gentlemen  now  that  they  may  settle  thi 
boundary,  but  they  never  will  unless  they  give  this 
notice;  every  thing  depend.s  upon  it.  Give  the  no- 
tice, and  you  will  settle  your  boundary;  neglect  to 
give  it,  and  you  will  be  begging  and  supplicating 
Great  Britain  for  years  to  come  to  do  that  which 
you  have  a  right  yourselves  to  do,  without  giving 
offence.  We  might  a.')  well  meet  the  question  now, 
and  .settle  it  at  once;  delay  will  only  endanger  the 
peace  of  tlie  country. 

Mr.  Y.  said,  I  now  predic,  if  this  notice  is  not 
given,  which  1  lieiicve  to  be  a  peaceful  measure, and 
will  result  in  an  amicable  adjustment  of  idl  our  diiR- 
culties  upon  the  subject,  I  tell  this  committee  that 
the  people  at  the  next  election  will  settle  it  for  them- 
.selves;  that  they  will  come  u{xin  you  like  an  ava- 
lanche, and  demand  the  whole  of  Oregon  up  to  54° 
40'.  And  they  will  not  only  extend  your  laws  over 
the  country,  but  they  will  take  possession  of  it  even 
nt  the  hazard  of  a  war;  and  if  that  policy  in  pursu- 
ed, it  needs  no  prophet  to  foretell  that  war  is  inevita- 
ble. Then,  I  say  to  the  peac< /<ar<t/  in  this  IIou.se, 
and  out  of  it,  that  to  avoid  a  war   you  must  abro- 


But  Mr.  Camioun  did  not  talk  nbout  stopping  at  "^"^  ''i'"  .)*""'  occupancy,  and  bring  this  matter  to  a 
49.  Nor  has  any  gentleman  who  ha.s  spoken  jn  I  close,  before  the  country  becomes  irritated  and  an- 
liiis  debate  shown,  or  endeavored  to  show,  that  the  \  P/X-  The  country  is  already  sufficiently  excited  on 
4a'.h  is  the  proper  line.  The  offpr  of  that  parallel  ''^'« /]'"'^"«"'  '^"V  ''^""«?  they  reluctantly  acq ui- 
vas  intended,  and  made,  merely  in  respect   to  for-  es^ed  m   the  President'.^  offer  to  compromise  at  49°, 

•-■••'•-•■  i.u«..  ^.,..— .J    I...V,    — !„..   .^g    circumiitances;  but 

not  renew  that  offer. 

^ _  __ ^ .same  thing  to  the  Prea- 

°" ~ "      °"  j  idf;nl;  I   excuse   him  for  making  the  offer,  but  he 

When  1  came  into  odlce.  I  foun.l  thi.f  to  be  the  state  of .  n„jgt  ,,01  Jo  it  again,  and  shall  not  with  my  consent. 

;;:;i"u^r';^HtS;:?l:;;:;rr^e'Jo^:it;'be^S:ilwi''.-t  f^^    whether  we  can   now  get  what  we 

riiined  to  any  portion  of  the  Oregon  territory  upon  any  '  we  might    have    got  before.  1    would    demand  our 

inciple  ol  pulilii-  law  ri.'coijniscd  by  nations,  yet.  in  deV-   just  rights,  and  then  enforce  them,  peaceably    if  we 

'J>   ni>:  r"-''lf'-'!^''«rs,  and   could,  forcibly  if  we  must. 


rvas  intended,  and  made,  merely  in  respect  to  for-icsceam  tnet-rcsiueni.s  oner  to 

•ner  administrations,  as  is  fully  and  fairly  .stated  by  I  '^^K  excused   him,  under  the 

:\!r.  Polk,  as  will  be  better  understood  by   reference  ^'^«y  ""^^  If;^'  ^'''^^  X""  ,"»^^'  "«' 

ho  the  following  extract  from  his  message.  i . .  ^  ^"^.  ^'"'"S  <".  I^V  V^<=  '^^}^. 


•fuce  to   whiit  liaci   Iiceii     .one  bj    my  pre.lecesiiors,  and 

lieeiiilly  inounsi'li.'nuion  llial  pniiio^ilioiis  ot  eomproniise 

A  been  tlirice  made  by  two  precciling  a'lmini<=trations,  to 

i'ust  the  i|neslion  on   the  parallel  of    birty-nine  ilcgrccs, 

I  in  two  oftliem  yieldiui;  to  (ireal    Kiitain  the  fn-c    n.ivi- 

'lUonoftbe  C'oliiinl.Ma.  and   th:it  tin-   pt'n>li:i.u°  mi^otiation 

•  I  iH'eii  comnieiici!il  on  the  basis  ofcoinpnwiiis,-.  I  I'rcnu'.l 

'.0  be  my  duty  not  iiliniptlv  tol'ii-ak  it  oil.     In  considcru- 

•i,  too,  th;U  under  the   conventions  ol    I'JI^i  anil  IS->7,  tbi.' 

./ens   and  subject*:  of  the  two  powirs  IkI  !  n  jOint   con- 

t^py  ol  tliecountrj  ,  I  was  in«luced  in  inanf  .luothrr  ctt'ort 

*«ttle  thi^  lone"    pending    controversy  in    the    spirit    ol 

Jeraticti  wUlv-ij  iia^i  jrivci)    tijrtb  to  the  renewed  disru-- 


i[ui  i  ii  J 


When  once  I  ara  satisfied  <>)'  my  rights,  I  will  in- 
sist upon  havinj^  them;  and   if  Great  Britain  should 

Jdecbre    war  in    twenty-four   hours,  let  her  doit; 

:  rather  than  a  pucritke  of  interesi  or   honor,  let  the 

]  war  come.     We  have  whippo.J  hf  r   twice,  and  we 

'  can  whip  her  again. 

Mr.  Y.  said  we  were  told  tiia;  the  question  waa 
one  in  which  seclional  feelings  were  brought  to 
bear — that  the  Wii>t  v/tm  pressing  thi.s  matter,  as  if 
she  alone   was  interested.     Nut  so.   sir:  the   West 


Icjiowa  hor  ri^hta,  *'and  knowing',  wilt  dare  matri- 
lain  them/'  And  whether  the  in  now  able  to  enforce 
her  claim,  in  common  with  the  balance  of  thii 
Ujibn  to  Oregon,  ia  a  matttT  of  doubt  that  will  not 
deter  hur  from  a  bold  and  i.idepcndent  expression  of 
her  claims  and  her  wrongs. 

Mr.  Chairman,  some  gentlemen  know  but  little 
of  the  wealth,  value,  ana  n^nourcca  of  that  empire, 
t^  valley  of  the  Missisaippi,  whose  inhabitants  are 
honest,  mdustrioua,  bravR,  and  patriotic;  und  whose 
population,  after  1850,  Will  be  able  to  demand  their 
ligntd  upon  thiu  floor.  With  the  exception  of  the 
grant  or  500,000  acrcfi  of  the  public  lands  to  the 
Bcw  States,  for  the  purposes  of  of  internal  improve- 
BMint,  we  are  Htrangcra  to  Lhe  public  trea^ry. 

f  A  v«ic(;.    That  was  a  whi|^  Congress.] 

Vcs,  sir,  it  was;  and  1  will  not  deny  them  that 
credit  which  id  due  to  them — such  credits  urc  so  rare 
that  they  should  not  be  withheld  when  duo. 

But,  Mr.  Y.  tiaid,  that  in  bestowing  that  donation 
they  had  fallen  540,000  ucres  short  of  what  had  been 
granted  to  Ohio  for  similar  objects. 

With  all  tbiH  boasted  liberality,  my  slate  is  minus 
540,000  acicM;  and  I  r.ow  give  notice,  I  shall,  before 
the  close  of  the  prrsent  scssicm,  propose  some  ineas- 
urc  to  place  her  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  Stale 
of  Ohio,  in  fail,  1  will  tell  my  people  to  be  quiet 
till  1850,  when  she  will  have  a  representation  on 
this  floor  who  will  be  Me  to  ask  for  justice  and  to 
enforce  it;  the  .snml!  pittance  wliich  has*  been  ex- 
pended in  lhe  valley  of  lhe  Miaslsaippi,  we  will  give 
you  credit  for,  but  we  will  present  a  lon^"?  and  large 
cccouiit  for  "back  rarinns." 

Mr.  Y.  said  the  Wcat,  and  those  in  '""vo'-  of  the 
nolir.o,  hud  been  dcrioniinated  by  sor;  'leman 

as  the  tfarpar/i/,  end  they  designate  ?'  .es  as 

thep;«f;;  jtarly.  At  liome,  1  am  conni'uCtn^  a  •mow  of 
peace — .so  are  my  coiiEtituents;  but  not  at  the  Kac- 
rjficc  of  honor.  "War.  pestilence,  and  famine," 
sooner  than  dishonor.  If  they  mean  to  njiimilate 
the  war  and  peace  partiot?  of  the  pre.sotit  day  vviih 
those  of  the  revolution,  and  the  lawt  war,  1  glory  in 
the  appellation.  Did  o;  ;•  forefdlhers  in  tlic  revolu- 
tion count  the  cosit  of  a  war  v.ith  Eng!aiid,  when 
wc  Avcre  but  a  handful,   and  v.'.'.!. out  luoney  or 


itiuniiions  of  war?  Did  they  ask  what  tha  war 
would  cost  us  to  battle  against  the  mother  country, 
who  was  enforcini^  upon  the  colony  taxation  without 
representation?  Did  they  ask  or  count  the  cost  when 
ourgallant  sires  throw  the  lea  overboard  at  Boston,  and 
refused  to  drink  it,  because  it  wasunjustly  forced  Uf>on 
them.'  No,  sir;  the  only  inquiry  was — Are  the  col- 
onics wron^d,  und  we  oppressed  by  unwholesome 
and  unjust  laws.'  The  question  being  answered  in 
the  affirmative,  we  find  the  Adamses,  and  the  Hiui* 
cockp,  and  legions  of  others  march  up  to  the  quss 
lion  and  meet  it  like  men  and  like  patriots.  Mr. 
Y.  said  there  was  a  pcuee  parly  in  1(313  and  during 
the  laat  war.  We  heard  their  opposition  to  the  war 
from  the  halls  of  Congress  and  from  the  holy  sanc- 
tuary. The  peace  narly  during  the  last  war  abused 
the  administration  tor  getting  into  the  war,  and  their 
opposition  was  so  violent  against  the  war  party  that 
they  described    James    Madison,   John    Holmes, 

Felix  Grundy,  and  the  d 1,  as  tho  leaders  of  the 

war  party,  and  called  down  imprecations  upon  them 
for  their  defeiirc  of  the  rights  and  interests  of  the 
country,  for  voting  supplies  for  the  nrmy,  and  men 
and  nicana  to  defend  the  country.  God  forbid  that 
I  should  ever  belong  to  Huch  a  peace  party.  I  hope 
there  iifi  nunc  such  at  the  prcKcnt  day. 

Mr.  Y.  fcnid  we  were  told  that  wc  were  not  pre- 
pared for  war,  because  we  have  no  generals  to  lead 
ua  to  victory.  Sir,  we  have  the  heroes  cf  Chip- 
pewa, of  Erie,  and  of  i!i;u!dutiky.  We  have  men 
and  arnia,  upwards  of  4,01)0  pieces  of  ordnance,  und 
600,000  small  arms,  und  1,800,000  militia,  with  a 
comnniuider-in-chief  who,  in  un  engu^tmcnt  in  a 
ni^ht  attacU,  siiowcd  ilia  plume  by  tlio  blaz'j  of  the 
enemy 'a  fire.  Wc  have  »^iill  our  Croi^'ians,  our 
Joneses,  our  Jesnpa,  our  Towiions,  and  others  not 
less  ft3'.inguif<lif:d,  who  arc  alway.-j  ready  to  de- 
fend the  stars  and  the  sitripes  without  .slopping  to 
count  the  coit.  Then,  air,  if  our  inttnjst  in  Ore- 
i;on  i:i  In  ttiat  u.s  a  war  to  maintain  it,  1  say  let  it  j 
(lomt-;  I'cttcr  war  than  diyiionor,  or  to  be  6«/iiet£infc>| 
a  "surrcndtrof  our  rights;  and  if  it  should  come,  ij 
say 

'■Lay  o'A  MaciIiJi!'. 
A.. )  .)jr.i:i.il  lo  he  U.;it  tir.st  iiitt  holt',  i  iioiigh." 


fSrs 


mfim 


